LATEST NEWS.........

For those of who who inexplicably couldn't make the AGM, I thought I'd do a quick summary of the main points.

+ A review of the last year, including the annual Exhibition and EGM recapping the decisions taken then

+ Financial report - overall we sort of held our own, but we couldn't continue on the same path for very long, sustaining the same losses centred on the Annual Exhibition

+ Exhibiting - two main things so far:-

1 Regular weekend exhibitions on the Maltings railings seem to be a goer (masterminded by Stewart Dakers)

2 On Thursday I received an email from the UCA saying that due to internal changes and a review of priorities, they cannot host the FAS annual exhibition in 2018.

+ Motions - It was decided to let the committee make all necessary decisions regarding exhibition policy in future e.g. judging, presentation styles

+ Committee I'm very glad to say that numbers have been strengthened and although there are a couple of little gaps, it looks much healthier

Those were the main points for those of you who were not there.

Also for you absentees, I would just like to thank you all for the opportunity of serving on the committee for six years, the last three as chairman. As I said on Monday, it was never less than interesting! The fulsome speech thanking me (joke), brought a tear to my eye and I can now consign myself to The Dustbin Of History and let the new faces get on with it.

I hope you will give great support to Jan (Chair) and David (Vice Chair) and watch out for and more importantly, take part in, the marvellous new developments as FAS continues to reinvent itself.

MEMBERS NEWS:

RIP It is with great regret we have to inform you of the death of our President, David Shepherd FRSA CBE 1931 — 2017. David died overnight Wednesday 20 September. Our condolences and sympathy go to his family. A Memorial Service date to be announced….

Monday 7 March 2016 — Movement and Colour, a demonstration with Jamel Akib. Fast action, seascapes, life drawing, portraiture, and costume were all covered in the demonstration tonight by Jamel Akib. Members watched in awe as they were shown construction and preliminary outlines along with tonal studies in pastels and finally an oil painting made with minimal marks but glowing with colour and movement. See is a sample of Jamel's seascapes. For further information on Jamel see his website on www.jamelakib.com and learn about his classes on www.crossbarnart.com

ARCHIVED:

Rosemary Miller SWA: Congratulations to Rosemary Miller who was elected as a full member to The Wapping Group of artists yesterday. The group which formed in 1946 has never had a woman member until now.

Shirley Slocock: Congratulations to Shirley who was invited last year, together with other botanical artists worldwide, to submit a painting of Trachycarpus fortuneii (Chusan palm) to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney and was fortunate to have it accepted. It now appears in their book, The Florilegium, and will be included in their exhibition to celebrate 200 years in existence. The exhibition is entitled Florilegium: Sydney’s painted Garden and will be open from 30 July until 30 October this year at the Museum of Sydney. It is hoped that it will also be mounted at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew Gardens, in 2018.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - Help save art and design education for future generations. In a report by NSEAD (the National Society for Education in Art and Design) on art, craft and design education in the last 5 years, responses from schools included showing a decrease in the time allocated for art and design; a fall in levels of art and design attainment reached by pupils joining secondary school, i.e. at primary level; and 93% of teachers agreed that Ebacc (the English Baccalaureate) had reduced opportunities for students to select art and design at Key Stage 4 (GCSE). The Department of Education is planning to make the EBacc all but compulsory in all schools. The Ebacc has no provision for any of the arts or design. If these plans become a reality, there would be little, if any room left for pupils to study creative industry relevant subjects and the arts could be squeezed out of schools altogether. Our future designers, engineers, architects would probably only come from private schools. Is that what we think is right? A national campaign was launched last year and is still continuing. You can find it at: www.baccforthefuture.com Almost 78,000 people and organisations – such as the Royal Academy, the Craft Council, various universities, art colleges, drama and music schools as well as businesses – have already signed it. They need 100,000 to trigger a full parliamentary debate. If you agree that all children need a rounded education and the opportunity to develop their full potential, please consider adding your name. UPDATE: Elizabeth Bagnall says: Great news. 100,000 signatures has been reached! We are now arranging to see Jeremy Hunt to make sure he knows how strongly his constituents feel about this so that he votes the right way when the time comes.

My dear friend Val died last June 2016, one week before her 64th birthday. We had both grown up as children in Boundstone, and became friends at Weydon School with our shared obsession for drawing and animals! Dick Lilley, the inspirational art teacher at Weydon, helped to develop our drawing and painting skills, encouraging us to try subjects other than animals! We went to Saturday morning art classes run by him, and after leaving school, we attended evening adult education art classes under the expert tuition of Peter Rees Roberts, who introduced us to exciting new media and techniques.

At this point our lives diverged to some extent, although we always remained close friends. My painting was put on the back burner, but Val continued to attend classes and painting groups, managing to fit these in with her busy working life, looking after and riding her horse, as well as her many other interests.

She became an exhibiting member of the Farnham Art Society many years ago and Val encouraged all her friends to go to the Annual Exhibition every year, where she would help man the desk. We loved spotting her paintings on view, as well as enjoying the whole exhibition. She also helped to organise and contribute to local exhibitions of her various painting groups over the years. These were always keenly attended by her family, many friends and acquaintances.

Once I retired, I took up painting again, re-joined the Art Society, and took pleasure in accompanying Val to workshops and demonstrations. We enjoyed going to a couple of 'plein aire' painting days ran by Rick Holmes. Val was always very supportive and encouraging of her fellow painters, and even in the final weeks of her illness, when I sent her photos of my work via email, she was happy to make gentle 'critiques'.

I miss Val greatly, as someone to share my love of art, horses, reading, reminiscences ... I am sure there are members of the Art Society who knew Val well and miss her smiling face. Ken, her beloved husband, is finding her loss devastating but hopefully, eventually will be able to look back with happy memories on their life together. He was very much involved with her painting, being the supportive labourer, helping with exhibitions and carrying her materials, so that she could concentrate on the art!

GEOFFREY AINLEY RIP - It was with great sadness we report recent death of Geoffrey Ainley. He was a much admired artist, committee member and supporter of local art societies including Farnham, Odiham, Bentley and Fleet. He was a purist in his watercolour paintings and his favourite subjects centred around aviation and railways. He exhibited around the Southeast and London where his work was much admired and appreciated. He was a member of the Society of Aviation Artists and won many awards. Obituary from The Telegraph
Funeral on Tuesday 15th November at Christ Church, Galley Hill Road, Church Crookham, Fleet GU 52 6 LH
Afterwards, North Hants Golf Club, Minley Road, Fleet GU51 1RF. No flowers please but donations to
Macular Society c/o AWGoddard, Funeral Directors, Kent Road, Fleet, GU51 3AJ

GILLIAN FERGUSON RIP — Farnham Art Society ex-Chairman, dear friend, fellow artist and committee member Gillian Ferguson died on the 11 March following a long illness. Jill was also a former Waverley council leader, Civil Servant for the MOD and Government Adviser. Her funeral service was held at St Andrews Church, Farnham on Friday 8 April at 12 noon when her cousin Simon gave a fitting and memorable tribute to Jill. Donations were made in her memory to 'Cancer Research UK' and sent to H C Patrick & Co Funeral Directors, 86-87 East Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7TP. She will be remembered with much affection (Farnham Herald Obituary) AUCTION OF JILL FERGUSON'S ARTWORK: Just to let you know that the auction of the late Jill Ferguson's artwork yesterday (21.10.2016) at her home in Castle Street (as previously advertised on our website) raised over £5000 inclusive of giftaid for Cancer Research UK which, despite the sad circumstances, was a very heartening result and occasion and a fitting farewell from all of us to her and her lovely home. Well done to all who attended especially Simon Tonking, Jills cousin and his family who organised the event – and well done to Jill for painting as she did and bringing us all together.

MOLLY DINWIDDIE RIP — I am writing to let your long-standing members know that Molly Dinwiddie, 94, passed away peacefully on 9th January 2016, after a long and happy life painting and drawing. The Farnham Art Society was a major interest throughout her retirement from a career in Occupational Therapy. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Andrew's Church, Farnham, at 4pm on Monday, 1st February. Friends of Molly's are most welcome to join us. Kind regards, Sarah Dinwiddie. sarahdinwiddie@hotmail.co.uk

PETER FOREY RIP — A final goodbye to a lovely man, talented painter and good friend. Dear friends , We hope that we have managed to contact all of you to tell you that Peter Forey sadly passed away last Thursday. We would be pleased if you could join us at Aldershot Crematorium (Guildford Rd, Aldershot, Hampshire GU12 4BP) at Wednesday 10am, January 27th for his funeral service and then to celebrate his life at The Heron on the Lake, Old Cove Road, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 2RY, from 11am onwards. If you are wondering about dress code, you may know Peter never possessed a suit, so we don’t expect you to wear one either! We ask that flowers are limited only to close family but if you would like to make a donation please feel free to do so via the following donation site; set up for the Woodland Trust following Peter’s wishes http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/PeterForey. We know that Peter was part of several societies therefore should you wish to forward these details to further friends then please feel free. We look forward to seeing you to celebrate Peter’s life and sharing some fond memories together. Pam, Simon and Kim Forey